the end of 2015

4 blog posts in one day. And only 37  for the year - note to self - must do better. Researching all the family stuff makes me realise how valuable anecdotes are. I am loving collecting the info but if only I could get a bit more of the chat stuff.

Big news of course - Grant and Hannah got engaged - well a wee while back but they had their engagement party at Mounts Bar Sailing Club - lovely evening and so good to catch up with lots of kids we hadn't seen for years. - having spent many weekends at this club many years ago - it's a great spot too.

 I started these in NZ and had this crazy idea that I would make 10 of these little fun things of no consequence in Dec - I have managed 6 which is not too bad for me I guess. 4 for January

 A bit of fun - all about A6 size and woven backgrounds

 Woven sari ribbon - wool felt - hand dyed linen -

 running stitch with Eleganza Perle 8 to give some uniformity

 

all influenced by something

little motifs to feature

Made the pavlovas and liqueur ice cream once again for Christmas - well two of each actually.

We have been very busy indeed and of course the e-mag is not ready for Dec - Ian is beavering away with a new suggestion from Jacinta - let's see how it goes - but fear not - it will appear soon - I have one article to finish and actually waiting on someone else's- that means I may not be last.

Roll on 2016 tomorrow and may all our dreams come true

 

Trip to NZ part 3

Lots of lovely bush - flax and more


Being brought up in Foxton, it reminded me of home


And more - all out in flower


And even some more


Loved the daisies too



We stopped for a cup of coffee at somewhere or another


We visited a few other good restaurants as well including Eggcentric (wonderful fish) but on our way back to Auckland changed our plans so we could pop into the Mussel Kitchen once more. Ian had the mussel chowder


And I had the battered mussels


Then I chanced upon a flower which fell at my feet when we were checking out the kauri trees on Road 309. Isn't it beautiful?



I left it carefully placed.




Let's finish with a back to London - no Ian didn't give these to me - he photographed them instead


And we found on our wanderings in Canary Wharf, a piano but not in the same condition as the ones in French train stations - such a fabulous idea

Trip to NZ part 2

Many parts because trouble loading!






After a couple of days in Thames where we also checked out Komata Reef and Paeroa, we headed up to Coromandel Town calling into the Mussel Kitchen - wow - green lipped mussels -





And to prove we ate them all







Then we drive to Whitianga on the west side- we haven't been there before - we camped up past Coromandel Town many years ago
From Whitianga we did the drive around to Cooks Beach





Went to Go Vino restaurant for our outing. sharing plates - absolutely fabulous food - I missed the first one but this was the squid





And we enjoyed French Champagne thanks to generosity of Grant





A fish dish






Yummy meat





And my lovely lemon desert along with a late picked thanks again to Grant - I love lemon!





And Ian's desert - wonderful evening and we also enjoyed chatting with the owner





We went down into Lonely Bay - really pleased with this photo - lots of scalloped edging - we climbed down but sadly no lift and had to climb up again but worth it!





Plenty of little kayaks out and about




We stayed at Cooks Beach and you can get the person ferry to Whitianga - takes a few minutes only or you have to drive right around


Whitianga


And some more - good time to be there - 300 pop in Cooks Beach climbing to 10000 in summer - not for us!


Bought myself some new pink sandals - not red this time but they only had pink and navy - very comfy




And I started my Summer stitching with wool felt - linen and my ironed sari ribbon

Part 3 coming

Trip to NZ part 1

I am cross with myself because I intended to write far more often - I have been writing my blog since 2006 and see it as a historical thing as much as anything else



We flew to Auckland end of Nov for a little anniversary outing - 47 years - yikes - and headed to the Coromandel. Landed early after a Dreamliner it ain't flight - collected a hire car which had a faulty petrol gauge so after returning it we finally arrived in Thames - spent the morning at the Treasury where actually I had more info than they did but then trundled up the hill at the Shortland Street cemetery to find Ian's great great grandfather and mother - Elijah and Caroline - who came out from England to Auckland and then to Thames where they had a bakery in Karaka Street.


Next we found Ian's great grandfather and mother just in the next row up. I have spent lots of time chasing my family especially my grannies but someone needed to start on the Rollos - it's been fascinating and I should have it all in print sometime in 2016 - I knew there was something useful a about an arts degree - and having history as one of my 3 majors means I am an official nosey parker with a certificate to prove it


We stayed at a very nice place looking out onto the Firth of Thames



We needed a wine or two after all that research




Inside our motel


With a lovely big window


Good viewing


And a little friend appeared as well


And meant I had to stop my ironing of sari ribbon
Part two coming

And where have I been?

It was my intention to write often once I got back from Europe but each day simply tonks away.

Of course - this was the biggest event in our calendar - he he - we enjoyed the games we watched in London and in France - our lovely friends in Menerbes made sure our tv was working and sent a text the morning after the AB vs France game and of course we came home and watched the fabulous final. You always worry until the last wee bit. How come the fans get so stressed? It's only a game she says.

I had great ideas of creating 3 little books whilst on holiday but at least I have finished my stitchy book - love weaving fabrics - this was a prefelt - flimsie and it took me all week in Menerbes to actually do the ground stitch - loads of running stitch but when I got back I added my favourite circles and some extras

For the skeptics - it is a magical memory book - no words but full of holiday memories - very tactile - words are in other places but memories remain in your head and are precious. I have the other two little books underway but just cluttering my work table at the moment.

We have been flat out since we got back - all sorts of reasons or no reasons - we decided last Thursday after the greedy Landlord of 15 years  got himself in a corner and thought to bribe us he would up the rent - to move warehouses - fast decision - we spent the weekend packing boxes although that gets very boring and half of our stuff doesn't suit nice neat boxes. The removalists who came on Tuesday were wonderful and 4 hours later we were done - we now have 2 storeroom spots but of course lots of sorting to do.

 so we started our packing - packing has to be one of the most boring things one can do and this place of course has no ventilation so our attention span is always low!

 this is one of our new spots - mine really - I thought I would be no use but actually it was good I was there - while I haven't unpacked I do know exactly where everything is in here

And this is Ian's space - loads and loads of full boxes - much more organisation needed here.
We have until 10th to get everything out of the other spot but there isn't that much left - the main object was to try not to bring much back home.

and the biggest excitement was that we won the Mayor's encouragement award for City of Vincent garden competition. This is what it says

The Mayor’s Encouragement Award went to Ian & Dale Rollerson of Smith Street in Highgate. Ian & Dale have a large Lemon Scented Gum in their backyard which was recently poisoned and subsequently looked very sick. They have spent considerable time and money in an attempt to keep this old majestic gum tree alive and we thank them for their ongoing effort and trust the tree will respond over time and continue to provide that valuable shade to cool the environment.

Isn't that just lovely? For those who ask often - the bottom branch of the tree is very healthy with new growth - the top ones are dead but the guys from Vincent when they came with our prize say that there is growth trying to get through the poison - we are very hopeful - it is a year since it was poisoned

Tonight we are off to NZ for our annual wee break. off to the Coromandel and to Whitianga where we haven't been before - i expect we will sleep all the way - it's been a busy busy week.